Windbreakers adjustable mirror for railway locomotives

ABSTRACT

Windbreaker and adjustable mirror apparatus for the cabs of railway locomotives, mountable at the forward side of the cab window on either side of the cab, for preventing wind, dust, rain, and snow from blowing into the cab and from blowing on persons within the cab. The windbreakers have transparent glass at their lower portions, and have mirrors at their upper portions to serve as rearview mirrors. In one form the rearview mirrors are angularly adjustable.

United States Patent 1191 Boudinot Feb. 12, 1974 WINDBREAKERS ADJUSTABLEMIRROR FOR RAILWAY LOCOMOTIVES [76] Inventor: Ralph A. Boudinot, 3002Robinhood Rd., Houston, Tex. 77005 [22] Filed: May 30, 1972 121] Appl.No.: 257,856

[52] US. Cl 105/456, 98/28, 105/342,

296/84 C [51 I Int. Cl... B6lc 17/00, B61d 49/00, B61k 13/00 [58] Fieldof Search 98/28; 105/26 R, 456, 342;

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,846,842 2/1932 Butler296/84 C X 1,554,222 9/1925 McCauley 296/84 C 1,633,368 6/1927 Hammond296/84 C 1,477,655 12/1923 McCullough... 296/84 C 1,714,135 5/1929 Prime98/28 Primary ExaminerGerald M. Forlenza Assistant Examinerl-lowardBeltran Attorney, Agent, or FirmCarl B. Fox, Jr.

[57] ABSTRACT Windbreaker and adjustable mirror apparatus for the cabsof railway locomotives, mountable at the forward side of the cab windowon either side of the cab, for preventing wind, dust, rain, and snowfrom blowing into the cab and from blowing on persons within the cab.The Windbreakers have transparent glass at their lower portions, andhave mirrors at their upper portions to serve as rearview mirrorsv Inone form the rearview mirrors are angularly adjustable.

7 Claims, 5 Drawing Figures WINDBIREAKERS ADJUSTABLE MIRROR FOR RAILWAYLOCOMOTIVES SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Windbreakers for railway locomotivecab windows conventionally have included transparent glass portions, andoften are provided with rearview mirrors located at the bottom portionsof the Windbreakers. While such Windbreakers are fairly useful, thepositionin g of the mirror portions at the lower ends of thewindbreakers has resulted in excessive hindrance of vision by theengineer or fireman within the locomotive cab. The positioning of therearview mirror portions of the Windbreakers at the lower ends of theWindbreakers has been consistently used, since it has been thought thatthe location of the mirror below the level of the engineers or fireman seyes gives better viewing of the rearward sides of the train, behind thelocomotive, since the cab is relatively high off the ground and it hasbeen thought that a downward viewing angle to the mirror and theconsequent reflective downward angle along the train would providebetter viewing.

However, it has been found that positioning of the rearview mirror atthe upper part of the Windbreaker gives substantially better results.When a locomotive is approaching a crossing, a congested area, or otherplace where close, constant, and thorough visibility is required, thebottom positioning of the rearview mirror frequently obstructs suchvision. Vision with the mirror so disposed at the lower portion of theWindbreaker is not hindered with respect to distant vision, as when thelocomotive and train are travelling across open countryside, but inrailroad yards and in cities where vision closer to the train becomesmore important, the lower positioned rearview mirrors do in factconstitute a definite safety hazard because of the difficulties ofviewing relatively close objects and persons.

When Windbreakers are constructed with the rearview mirror portion atthe top of the Windbreaker, in accordance with the invention, nohindrance to long range vision is encountered, and yet at the same timevision of closer objects is very greatly improved. Vision of the closerobjects is in a downward direction from the locomotive cab, and sincethe rearview mirror portion of the visor is elevated, it does notpresent a hindrance to such vision. The most important viewingdirections when a locomotive is operated in a city or town, or in aswitching yard, or the like, is angular downward viewing relativelyclose to the train and immediately along the track, and it is this veryfield of view that conventional locomotive Windbreakers having mirrorsat their lower portions have obstructed to a considerable degree.

Frequently. because of the poor visibility therepast, locomotiveengineers have pivotally moved the windbreakers to out-of-use positionsagainst the cab in order that viewing will not be impaired, and theWindbreakers of the present invention will eliminate the necessity fordoing this.

The invention, in addition, provides Windbreaker structures which areless subject to damage and which will require less time and expense formaintenance and repairs, as well as replacement. The Windbreakers arepivotally movable about a vertical axis to against the cab, theaforementioned out-of-use position, in conventional manner. TheWindbreakers having angularly adjustable rearview mirrors have novelmeans for angular adjustment which are reliable and not subject todamage of the mirror or other parts of the structure. An improvedassembly for providing pivotal movement about the vertical axis ofrotation of the Windbreakers is also provided, which is trouble-free andwhich provides that the engineer or fireman or other operator of themirror may have complete control of the windbreaker at all times duringmovements, yet the movements are accomplishable in easier fashion withonly one hand.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will appear from thefollowing detailed description of the preferred forms of the apparatus,reference during the descriptions being made to the accompanyingdrawmgs.

BRIEF DESCRIPTIONS OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is an elevation of aWindbreaker of preferred form, having a non-angularly adjustablerearview mirror, according to the invention.

FIG. 2 is a side elevation of the apparatus shown in FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a partial elevation of a modified form of apparatus accordingto the invention.

FIG. 4 is a partial transverse elevation of the visor shown in FIG. 3.

FIG. 5 is an enlarged top or plan view of the apparatus shown in FIGS. 3and 4.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED I EMBODIMENTS Referring first to thepreferred form of apparatus shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, a bracket 10 havinggusset flange portion 10a and bottom flange portion 10b is adaptable tobe connected to the side of a railway locomotive, in front of andadjacent the top of the cab window, by screws 11, 12. A hole at thebottom of bracket 10 receives a pin 15 which is carried at the upper,inner edge of frame 18. Frame 18 has a vertical bar 19 at the sideadjacent the locomotive, and has outwardly extending bar portions 20,21, and 22. The bars 19 22 are grooved at their inwardly facing sides toreceive pane 24 of transparent glassand pane 25, a mirror. The crossbar21, of course, is grooved at its upper and lower sides to receive theedges of both panes 24 and 2 5. A removable bar 28 inwardly grooved orslotted to receive the outer edges of glass pane 24 and mirror 25 issecured to frame 18 by screws 30, 31 and 32. These screws are receivedthrough holes through bar 28 and the inner ends of the screws arethreaded into tapped openings at the ends of bars 20, 21 and 22,respectively. An elastomeric material may be provided at the edges ofthe glass and mirror to prevent vibration and possible damage thereto,as is conventional and is not shown in the drawings.

At the lower end of the Windbreaker, a bracket 34 is provided belowbracket 10, and is connected to the locomotive cab side by screws 36.The upper flange-like portion of bracket 34 is surrounded at its curvededge by side-by-side ribs or teeth 38. A gusset 39 extends be tween thevertical and horizontal flanges. Bar 22 has at its lower outer end anintegral formation 41 having an opening 42 at its inner side into whichis disposed a plunger 43. Plunger 43 has an end enlargement 44 againstwhich a compression spring 45 is disposed to bias plunger 43 outwardly.Plunger 43 has a formation 47 which is ribbed at its outer side tointerengage with teeth 38 of flange 37. Formation 47 has a downwardlyextending finger grip 51, a similar oppositely turned finger grip 52being integrally formed downwardly from element 41. When finger grips51, 52 are engaged at their outer sides by fingers of the hand, andsqueezed, plunger 43 is forced into opening 42 to disengage formation 47from teeth 38. When this is done, formation 47 may be pivotally movedalong the length of teeth 38 in either direction, to change the angularposition of the Windbreaker with respect to the side of the cab, and ifdesired to place the Windbreaker fiushly against the side of the cab ineither direction. Release of the finger grips 51, 52 brings formation 47back into engagement with teeth 38 so that the Windbreaker is fixed inplace.

In FIGS. 1 and 2, the mirror is fixed in place and is not angularlyadjustable. This form of the apparatus has great utility especiallywhere a minimum of operation of the locomotive under close conditions iscontemplated. Movement of the engineers or firemans head suitablyadjusts the view through the glass 24 and the mirror 25 as occasiondemands, so that what is desired to be seen can be seen with clarity.

In the modification of the apparatus shown in FIGS. 3-5, the apparatusprovides for angular adjustments of the rearview mirror 25a. Elementsshown in FIGS. 3-5 which are the same as elements of FIGS. 1-2 areindicated by the reference numerals of FIGS. 1 and 2 and will not beredescribed. In the Windbreakers of FIGS. 3-5 a rectangular frame 55 isinserted into the mirror grooves of bars 19, 20, and 21 of frame 18.Frame 55 has an outer surrounding flange or bead 56 which fits into themirror groove of frame 18. At its upper side, frame 55 has a projectingformation 58 through which is vertically disposed a shaft 59. Shaft 59has an enlargement 60 above which is disposed compression spring 62. Atits upper end shaft 59 has handle 64.

At its lower side, frame 55 has a hinge formation 67. Frame 69, whichsurrounds rearview mirror 25a, has a lower hinge formation 70. A pin 71pivotally interengages hinge formations 67, 70, so that frame 69 ispivotally movable.

At its upper side, frame 69 has a curved transversely disposed integralbar formation 72 in the upper side of which are series of spaced holes74. Shaft 59 is interchangeably engageable in each of the holes 74. Whenshaft 59 is pulled up against the compression bias of spring 62 and themirror is moved to place the shaft in a different hole 74, the angularposition of mirror 25 is altered.

In order that wind and dust will not penetrate past the mirror 25a andits frame 69, a plate 77 is provided hehind the mirror and frame. Plate77 may be integral with frame 55, as shown, or may be screwed thereontoat the back side of frame 55, and has an opening for passage of bar 72.

As will be understood, the apparatus is of durable construction andreadily adapted to the service required. The frames 55, 69 of FIGS. 3-5may be placed in the upper opening of frame 18 of FIGS. 1 and 2,so thatin case the apparatus of FIGS. 1 and 2 is originally installed, theapparatus may easily be converted to the form of FIGS. 3-5, and viseversa. The position adjustment of the Windbreaker, or visor, at the sideof the locomotive cab, i.e. the adjustment provided by squeezingtogether finger grips 51, 52 and moving the angular position of themirror at teeth 38, is easily accomplished even while the locomotive ismoving, since only one hand is required to make the change in thewindbreaker position. The mirror angle adjustment of shaft 59 in holes74 of bar 72 is also accomplishable by one and operation. The handle 64may be elevated by the thumb and one or more adjacent fingers, while theheel of the hand placed beneath bar 72 adjusts the angular position ofthe mirror and frame. Therefore, a completely adjustable, serviceable,apparatus is provided which is superior to conventional apparatus. Thelocation of the mirror at the upper portion of the windbreaker relievesthe engineer or fireman of field of view obstruction for operation ofthe locomotive in places such as cities and towns and railway yardswhere visibility adjacent to the train is desirable.

While preferred embodiments of the invention have been described andshown in the drawings, many modifications thereof may be made by aperson skilled in the art without departing from the spirit of theinvention, and it is intended to protect by Letters Patent all forms ofthe invention falling within the scope of the following claims.

I claim:

1. Windbreaker for railway locomotives, and the like, comprisingvertically elongate generally rectangular frame means, connection meansfor connecting one vertical side of said frame means to the side of thecab of a locomotive, an intermediate bar disposed horizontally acrosssaid frame means to devide said frame into upper and lower portions,said frame means having mirror means within said upper portion andtransparent pane means within said lower portion whereby said lowerportion of the Windbreaker affords unimpaired observation therepast,said frame means and intermediate bar having continuous slot meansaround said upper portion, a stationary outer mirror frame receivedwithin said slot means, a pivotal inner mirror frame surrounding saidmirror means and hinged to said outer mirror frame at its lower side,mutually engageable latch elements at the upper sides of said outer andinner mirror frames providing multiple angular positions of said innermirror frame and mirror means with respect to said outer mirror frameand said frame means.

2. The combination of claim 1, said connection means being pivotal andadapted to permit adjustment of the angular position of said frame meansabout a vertical axis.

3. The combination of claim 2, said pivotal connection means comprisingfirst and second bracket means connectable to the side of saidlocomotive cab respectively above and below said frame means, verticalpin means engaged between each said bracket means and said frame meansand said frame means being pivotally movable about said pin means, saidsecond bracket means having semicircularly disposed teeth concentricwith said pin means, engagement means carried by said frame meansreleasably engaged with said teeth to adjustably fix the angularposition of said frame means.

4. The combination of claim 3, said engagement means comprising cylinderbody means affixed to the lower side of said frame means, plunger meansspring biased from an end of said cylinder body means toward said teethof said second bracket means, and finger grip means on each of saidplunger means and said cylinder body means adapted to be simultaneouslyheld by the hand and squeezed to disengage said plunger means ate barmeans having spaced openings therealong disposed transverse to the upperside of said inner mirror frame, said retractable shaft means beingengageable into any of said spaced openings of said arcuate bar means toadjust the angular position of said mirror means.

7. The combination of claim 6, said outer mirror frame having platemeans thereacross behind said inner mirror frame and mirror means, saidplate means having an opening therethrough through which said arcuatebar means extends.

1. Windbreaker for railway locomotives, and the like, comprisingvertically elongate generally rectangular frame means, connection meansfor connecting one vertical side of said frame means to the side of thecab of a locomotive, an intermediate bar disposed horizontally acrosssaid frame means to devide said frame into upper and lower portions,said frame means having mirror means within said upper portion andtransparent pane means within said lower portion whereby said lowerportion of the windbreaker affords unimpaired observation therepast,said frame means and intermediate bar having continuous slot meansaround said upper portion, a stationary outer mirror frame receivedwithin said slot means, a pivotal inner mirror frame surrounding saidmirror means and hinged to said outer mirror frame at its lower side,mutually engageable latch elements at the upper sides of said outer andinner mirror frames providing multiple angular positions of said innermirror frame and mirror means with respect to said outer mirror frameand said frame means.
 2. The combination of claim 1, said connectionmeans being pivotal and adapted to permit adjustment of the angularposition of said frame means about a vertical axis.
 3. The combinationof claim 2, said pivotal connection means comprising first and secondbracket means connectable to the side of said locomotive cabrespectively above and below said frame means, vertical pin meansengaged between each said bracket means and said frame means and saidframe means being pivotally movable about said pin means, said secondbracket means having semicircularly disposed teeth concentric with saidpin means, engagement means carried by said frame means releasablyengaged with said teeth to adjustably fix the angular position of saidframe means.
 4. The combination of claim 3, said engagement meanscomprising cylinder body means affixed to the lower side of said framemeans, plunger means spring biased from an end of said cylinder bodymeans toward said teeth of said second bracket means, and finger gripmeans on each of said plunger means and said cylinder body means adaptedto be simultaneously held by the hand and squeezed to disengage saidplunger means from said teeth to move said frame means to a differentangular position.
 5. The combination of claim 1, said frame means andintermediate bar means having continuous slot means around said lowerportion and said transparent pane means having its edges engagedtherein, one vertical side of said frame means being removable wherebysaid transparent pane means and said outer mirror frame is removablefrom said frame means.
 6. The combination of claim 1, said mutuallyengageable latch elements comprising retractable shaft means on theupper side of said outer mirror frame and arcuate bar means havingspaced openings therealong disposed transverse to the upper side of saidinner mirror frame, said retractable shaft means being engageable intoany of said spaced openings of said arcuate bar means to adjust theangular position of said mirror means.
 7. The combination of claim 6,said outer mirror frame having plate means thereacross behind said innermirror frame and mirror means, said plate means having an openingtherethrough through which said arcuate bar means extends.